Hermeneutics 101 (was-Re: Rings and Things)

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Bro. Mark:


Some powerful preaching here, a fine example of Pentecostal oratory, but
there are one or two issues which have not been touched. I will attempt to
do that.




>[LONG MESSAGE WARNING]
>Here is the mandatory creed inclusion for those who need it.
>
Very good creed. Kept a copy of it :-)


>Now, lets add some statements that many might not demand of me:
>On that basis, I would
>rather be an igorant sinner found in judgement than a disobedient
>Christian. Think about that.
>

Very powerful



>4. Pastors and other ministries in the church ARE God's means to deal
>with flesh, and when pastoral ministry and anointed teaching of the
>word is rejected, God does NOT have to provide alternative means of
>communicating with man, nor is he likely to. 

Pastors and ministries are an instrument in the hand of God to deal with
flesh. Don't place a task only the Holy Ghost can perform on the head of
the ministry. If my pastor (or any) is obedient to what God calls him to do
and I still live in the flesh, that is not his fault. Other means for
dealing with flesh include travail and intercession on someone's behalf,
scripture, and fellow saints (Jesus did say that one who would not repent
was to be brought before the church, not just pastor or board).

>
>Now, with that in mind, for your perusal is one man's teaching on
>"Rings and Things". This is probably a point of view that you will not
>hear readily these days and right here, so consider it a priviledge.
>You may not agree, but, you may be wrong :)

I count it a priviledge that you accord me that right. When I feel the need
to be wrong I'll make use of it. In the mean time here are some comments.
>

>I would like to begin this article with a quote from Bro. James
>Kilgore, the Assistant General Superintendent of the United
>Pentecostal Church.
>

First, as you have said many times, Mark. We are not Catholic, we have no
Pope, so why start with a quote from a man instead of a scripture
condemning Jewellry?

> World Book Encyclopedia, page 95 under
>jewelry states, "Jewelry includes:  rings, bracelets, necklaces,
>earrings, brooches, and 

*****various ornaments for the hair."********

Once again my comment about "plaited hair" Our Pentecostal women have more
gizmos and doodads for their hair than Crystal Gayle. WAP even distributes
a book on hairstyles for women. Why do we ignore that part of the Scripture
on apparel and turn our guns at Jewellry? I'm not saying we should ignore
Jewellry, just be consistent.

 In no
>instance in Holy Scripture, neither by priest, prophet or apostle, was
>the marriage vows solemnized by the putting on of a ring. God
>performed the first wedding in the garden of Eden, and no where can we
>find that he married Adam and Eve with rings. 

If God performed any ceremony in the Garden, I missed it. EVERY aspect of
the modern wedding ceremony (including rings) comes from the tradition of
man. Using our brothers logic, we would also have to get rid of the wedding
dress (they were naked), a minister (not one there), wedding march and
music (none), a marriage license (if I don't need a ring  to show I'm
married, I don't need a piece of paper either), etc. Reductio ad absurdum (
argument reduced to the rediculous premise on which it stands, for those
who don't know Latin)

I just got married, and had all those elements in my wedding, with my
pastor's blessing and approval.  

Let us also note there are only two wedding mentioned in the NT. Cana (a
Jewish wedding with alcohol being served, and no discussion of Jewellry)
and the marriage of Jesus and His Bride the church. There is no "apostolic"
wedding ceremony or pattern to follow. Baptism, yes. Marriage, no.
>
>The Apostle Paul in his discourse on marriage, never made mention
>about rings being used to symbolize the marriage ordinance. --snip--
>Neither Jesus, or his
>disciples ever taught the wearing of a wedding ring.

Paul talked about getting married, to marry or not to, and how to live as
married, not about what to wear, when to do it, what to say etc. Argument
from silence. Jesus does mention the placing of a ring on the Prodigal's
finger. (Bro. Brown points out that this was a signet ring, and says that
makes it not Jewellry...I wonder. If having a special purpose removed it
from the catagory of Jewellry, than it does a wedding ring to.)

>The Bride of Christ, in the book of
>Revelation did not wear a ring to show she was a bride. She wore fine
>linen, clean and white; which was the righteousness of the Saints.
>However, the great whore, who was drunk with the blood of the saints,
>was decked with gold, precious stones and pearls.

In the old Testament God is shown as placing Jewels and Jewelry upon Israel as
a sign of His love for her.
>
Ezekiel chapter 16
8: Now when I passed by thee, and looked upon thee, behold, thy time was
the time of love; and I spread my skirt over thee, and covered thy
nakedness: yea, I sware unto thee, and entered into a covenant with thee,
saith the Lord GOD, and thou becamest mine.

9: Then washed I thee with water; yea, I throughly washed away thy blood
from thee, and I anointed thee with oil.

10: I clothed thee also with broidered work, and shod thee with badgers'
skin, and I girded thee about with fine linen, and I covered thee with
silk.

11: I decked thee also with ornaments, and I put bracelets upon thy hands,
and a chain on thy neck.

12: And I put a jewel on thy forehead, and earrings in thine ears, and a
beautiful crown upon thine head.

13: Thus wast thou decked with gold and silver; and thy raiment was of fine
linen, and silk, and broidered work; thou didst eat fine flour, and honey,
and oil: and thou wast exceeding beautiful, and thou didst prosper into a
kingdom.

Also we have the book of James:

2: For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly
apparel, and there come
in also a poor man in vile raiment;

It is the church that is being criticized here, nothing negative is said
about the man or how he dresses. "Gay apparel" is an Elizabethanism for
attractive clothing.

In Song of Solomon numerous references are made comparing the two main
characters bodies to types of Jewellry.

So all of Scripture does not take a negative position on jewellry, although
some does.

>You cannot allow wedding rings in the church and ever win the battle
>against jewelry. 

We wrestle not against flesh and blood (or against precious metal and stone)


>LET HISTORY HAVE HER SAY!
>
>"Rings Through The Ages" - Author James McCarthy 

>Margaret Blake in her book "Wedding Customs and Folklore," states
>"Wedding rings are also important in divination."
>
n? Someone says, "I'm embarrassed not to wear a
>ring, I'm afraid someone will think I am living in adultery." What do
>you wear to prove to the world that you are a Christian?(Bride of
>Christ). You say, "Nothing, my life and my testimony show the world
>that I am a Christian." The same should hold true in a marriage. Two
>people should live in such respectable fidelity that the world can
>tell by their conduct that they are married and if there is ever a
>question, wouldn't their marriage license settle all doubt? 

Once again where do we get the ok to have a marriage license. Why is one
tradition of man ok but not another?


rring." My
>friend, let me kindly ask you one question; is the reason based on
>Scripture or Custom? When Custom comes into conflict with scripture,
>which do we obey? The Apostles said, "We ought to obey God rather than
>men."

I agree. So why are we so down on rings? Is it Scripture or custom? If
Scripture, lets see some. If custom, who ought we to obey?

(Now before people jump down my throat, let me point out that I know that
if your pastor or church leadership tells you to do something, you are to
do it. Obedience is better than hermeneutics.)


****************************************************************************


>Me again...
>Do I condemn the wearer of a ring ? No. (Actually some of our people
>still, after a WHOLE YEAR, wear some jewelry. Even "ear rings". You
>know why ? Cause Im dealing with it the way God tells me too... with
>patience. God called someone to pastor you too. I pray you listen to
>him, knowing what rsponsibility is on his soul) 

I agree with that. Just because I have written something here, not in the
hope that everyone will go out and wear Jewellry, but that we will clean up
our slack habits of Bible study, don't ever use it to go contrary to your
pastor.

There are a number of good reasons not to wear Jewellry (pride,
covetousness, humility) that are covered by a multitude of Scripture in the
Book that we don't need to wrest Scripture this way and that to make our
point.
>

>Let me tell you, PROPER UNDERSTANDING does NOT come by debating every
>little thing that the flesh has problems with.
>
True. We must diligently search the Scriptures to see if these things
actually be, and then live with what we find. Lets let the Word of God
renew our minds, cleanse our hearts, try our motives, and guide our steps.
The Apostolic faith is firmly grounded on solid Scripture lets keep it
there and not on shifting interpretations and men's opinions which bring no
conviction.

As far as my thoughts on the issue:

SUMMARY:

1- Obey God
2- Obey your Pastor
3- There is no example of an Apostolic wedding in the New Testament
4- Don't be entangled with gold, expensive clothes, and other cares of life
5- Let the word shape you, not vice versa
6- I wear a plain, simple wedding band (and have a marriage license-$100 in
New Brunswick, OUCH!)

God Bless

Frank

Frank Vandenburg
BKM Research and Development
438 Paul St.
Dieppe, NB
Canada E1A 4Z5
Tel: 1.506.857.9620
Fax: 1.506.852.3728
email: frank@bkm.ca

"You will always get what you need when you help enough others get what
they need."